a networking breakfast to connect and grow health promotion leaders

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friday, september 26, 2025

Thank You!

Thank you to everyone who attended our Wake Up With Wellness networking breakfast. We are grateful to our panelists for sharing their expertise and to all who participated in this important conversation. Thank you also to our sponsor, Medica, for their support of workplace wellness.

We hope your day started brighter and your week ended with inspiration. We will see you next year!

our WUWW panelists

AmyFreidman

Amy Friedman

Benefits Manager for the City of Minneapolis

Amy leads initiatives to support employee health, well-being, and engagement. She has served in the City’s Human Resources Department for more than 30 years, dedicating over 15 of those years to advancing worksite wellness. Amy played a key role in building the City’s wellness program, designing resources that help employees thrive both on and off the job. Thanks to her leadership — through innovative incentives, dynamic communications, and creative offerings — the City’s online points-based wellness program consistently reaches an impressive 80% employee participation rate.

Outside of work, Amy enjoys spending time with family, reading, traveling, and playing mahjong. She especially loves combining her passions for travel and the game by competing in mahjong tournaments across the country each year.

CarynDevine

Caryn Devane

Director of Human Resources at Dermatology Consultants, PA

Caryn graduated with a business degree from the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota. She holds professional certifications from the HR Certification Institute (HRCI) and the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). Caryn has been employed with Dermatology Consultants, a private dermatology practice located in the East Metro, for the past 14 years and has expertise in talent management, employment law, benefits administration, employee engagement, safety, strategic planning and employee wellbeing.

When she’s not chasing around her 4- and 1-year olds, she enjoys practicing yoga and getting out on the pickleball court.

Ryan Donovan Head Shot 1

Ryan Donovan

Senior Director of Risk, Benefits, and Insurance Solutions, Sourcewell

Ryan  has been in the insurance industry for 20+ years as a commercial P&C, Group Health, and Life insurance producer.  His responsibilities include development of insurance and employee benefit cooperative purchasing contracts, oversight of a health insurance Joint Risk Pool, leading and coordinating insurance and employee benefit programs and expansion of educational opportunities for members.  Ryan’s mission is to bring efficiency, transparency, and value to Sourcewell’s membership.

Sourcewell is a self-supporting government organization, partnering with education, government, and nonprofits to boost student and community success. 

Thrive Through Change:
A Culture of Care and Connection

empowering organizations to nurture a people-first culture

We’re so excited to invite you to Wake Up With Wellness — an uplifting, energy-filled event where purpose meets passion in workplace wellness.  For 25 years, our annual Conference has inspired healthier, more connected workplaces. This year, we’re shaking things up with a dynamic, interactive morning designed to delve deeper and spark conversation.

Our panelists for the morning include key wellness players: Amy Friedman, Benefits Manager,  City of Minneapolis; Caryn Devane, Director of HR, Dermatology Consultants; and Ryan Donovan,  Senior Director, Risk, Benefits, Insurance, Sourcewell.

After the panel, we’ll dig deeper in small-group conversations, exploring how to embed learnings and align leadership around one powerful idea: wellness is a strategic lever for shaping culture.

At Wake Up With Wellness, you’ll:

  • LEARN from organizations that embrace people-centered cultures
  • CONNECT with amazing, like-minded professionals in the wellness space
  • DISCOVER new, creative ways to help employees feel valued, supported, and cared for
  • GAIN tools and inspiration to make wellness a lasting part of your organization’s culture

Join us in person on September 26 for inspiring insights, actionable takeaways, and real stories about building a culture where employees feel valued, connected. and cared about. Be a part of meaningful conversations that will leave you recharged and motivated.

Young multiethnic startup team standing and applauding at the modern office

Discover how to drive a culture of wellbeing.

When health, wellbeing, trust and belonging come together, wellness transforms from “just a program” into the fabric of organizational culture—a culture where people feel supported, valued, and inspired.

Friendly colleagues enjoying coffee in modern office

Build cultures where people truly thrive.

Wellness programs are one of the strongest vehicles for making a “people first” culture real. They translate abstract values like “we care about our people,” into concrete experiences employees can feel, see, and participate in.

a group of young entrepreneurs on a coffee break discuss the project while using modern editing tablets, a smartphone and a laptop

Gain fresh insights and actionable strategies.

We face growing challenges in keeping work culture strong and people-centered. It's our goal to equip leaders, HR/benefits professionals, and wellness champions with fresh ideas and a chance to connect with like-minded peers.

HSS.quotes

Creating a culture of wellness is both challenging and rewarding. We hope to provide you with an opportunity to immerse yourself in a morning dedicated to wellness, where you can re-energize, gain fresh insights, and draw inspiration from our speakers and fellow attendees.

— Mary Kruse, CEO/Owner HealthSource Solutions

thank you to our sponsor